System and method for prescriptive seed treatment

Abstract

An improved method for prescriptive seed treatment is provided. A location can be calculated where a combination of seed and one or more types and/or amounts of seed-applied substances will be planted. The combination is selected, based at least in part, on one or more conditions. The combination is generated prior to being planted. The method can further include selecting a type of seed and/or a type and/or amount of the one or more seed-applied substances to be applied. One or more applicators can apply the seed-applied substance(s) to the seed within a seed flow path during operation. A plurality of seed receptacles can contain different combinations of seed and/or seed-applied substances generated prior to being placed into the receptacles. The method could further include selecting a seed receptacle containing a selected combination, and delivering the selected combination from the selected seed receptacle to be planted by the planter.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A prescriptive seed treatment method comprising the steps of:
 providing a planter, a seed drop tube, a substance receptacle, a substance applicator, a seed, and a seed-applied substance; 
 calculating a location within a field where the seed will be delivered to the soil by the planter; 
 selecting, based at least in part on a condition, a combination of the seed and the seed-applied substance by selecting a type of seed-applied substance and calculating a desired application amount of the selected type of the seed-applied substance to be applied to and carried by the seed to the soil; 
 generating the combination of the seed and the selected type of the seed-applied substance at least in part by individually applying the desired application amount of the selected type of the seed-applied substance to each seed as it is being delivered to the soil 
 and 
 delivering the combination of the seed and the selected type of the seed-applied substance to the soil at the calculated location within the field for planting; 
 wherein the type of the seed-applied substance and the desired application amount of the selected type of the seed-applied substance can vary as the planter changes locations within the field. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of selecting, based at least in part on the condition, the combination of seed and seed-applied substance further comprises selecting a seed type. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the combination of seed and the selected type of the seed-applied substance varies based at least in part on one of the following: a type of the seed, the type of the seed-applied substance, and an application rate of the seed-applied substance. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein a controller can be used to calculate the location where the seed will be delivered to the soil, select, based at least in part on the condition, the combination of seed and seed-applied substance to plant at the location, generate the combination of the seed and the selected type of the seed-applied substance, or plant the combination of seed and the selected type of the seed-applied substance. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  wherein the selected type of the seed-applied substance is applied to the seed proximate to the seed drop tube. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the substance applicator comprises a nozzle to spray the selected type of the seed-applied substance onto the seed as the seed is delivered to the soil. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of generating the combination of the seed and the selected type of the seed-applied substance further comprises:
 providing a metering device; and 
 metering an amount of the selected type of the seed-applied substance from the substance receptacle through a substance flow path to the substance applicator with the metering device. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of generating the combination of the seed and the selected type of the seed-applied substance further comprises:
 providing a timing mechanism; and 
 calculating, with the timing mechanism, both delivery time of the selected type of the seed-applied substance from the substance receptacle through a substance flow path to the substance applicator and travel time of the seed through a seed flow path. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a mixer in fluid communication with the substance receptacle and a substance flow path; and 
 mixing the seed-applied substance prior to the selected type of the seed-applied substance being applied to the seed. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of:
 adjusting a mixture ratio of the seed-applied substance during operation of the planter. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  wherein the substance applicator is associated with at least one of:
 a. a mixer in fluid communication with the substance receptacle and a substance flow path; 
 b. a seed hopper configured to receive the seed from a seed receptacle; 
 C. a seed meter configured to receive the seed from the seed hopper and further transfer it through a seed flow path; and 
 d. the seed drop tube. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of:
 transferring the seed into the seed drop tube; and 
 applying the selected type of the seed-applied substance to the seed proximate to or within the seed drop tube. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1  wherein the desired application amount of the selected type of the seed-applied substance to be applied to the seed is either:
 always the same amount of seed-applied substance; or 
 only either one specific amount of seed-applied substance or no amount of the seed-applied substance. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the type of the seed-applied substance and the desired application amount of the selected type of the seed-applied substance can vary as the planter changes location within the field by changing the type, number or amount of one or more of the seed-applied substances applied to the seed when generating the combination of the seed and the seed-applied substance. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the combination of seed and the selected type of the seed-applied substance can vary based at least in part upon a seed-applied substance type, a number of seed-applied substances, or the desired application amount of one or more of the selected type of seed-applied substance. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the combination of seed and the selected type of the seed-applied substance can vary based at least in part upon a seed type. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the seed drop tube comprises an air tube. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the seed drop tube comprises a brush tube. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the seed drop tube comprises a seed accelerator.